Willotjghby b



W. B. LINDSEY.

INDICATOR.

APPLmATmN FILED JULY 21,1919.

1,872,522. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

MQW @la UNITED STATES i :PATENT OFFICE.

WILLOUGHIBY B. LINTJSEY, OF ROSSLYN, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONZE-HALF T ALFRED M. WILSON, `O1? WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. E E

E INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application `filed July 21, 1919. Serial No. 312,207.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ILLOUGHBY B. LIND- snr, a citizen of the United States of Americzurresiding at Rosslyn, inthe county ot' Alexandria and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useiul Improve ments in Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in indicators, and more particularly, to that class of indicators which are known generally in the trade as Muster boards77 or Checking-in boards,77` and which are employed for checking or registering the arrival of employees to their work, or both their arrival and departure to and 'from work, at anyplant, or other place where a register of the employees is desired.

The present invention is an improvement upon the type of indicator or muster board shown, described and claimed in Patent No. 853,612, granted to Harry lVilson, May 14th, `1907, and has `among its objects the material simplifying of the construction therein with a resultant reduction oit cost in manufacture; Vthe provision of means whereby the indicator elements are maintained secure against unauthorized removal 'from the board when in either of their two rest positions thereon; and the provision of means whereby the said elements or any one or more of the same may be readily removed by some authorized person.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the improvements are "specifically described, and in describing the invention in detail, reference will .be had to the accom panying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals ot reference will indicate like parts through the different views, in which Figure 1, is a iront elevation of a board or indicator embodying my improvements, the type of muster board shown being one in which space for the posting ot bulletins is provided, certain portions of the frame of the board being broken away and in section,

Fig.l 2, is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken onlthe line II-II of Fig. l,

Fig. 3, is a Jfront elevation of a part of the board, showing the hiding-strips moved to an abnormal position to permitthe removal of the tags or markers,

.Fig.` 4:, is an enlarged horizontal `sectional View taken on the line IV--IV of Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one koi? the supporting elements for the strips case, which constitutes a support, is usually one with an open front, and may be of the type here shown, in which a part of the space within the case is used ior mustering purposes, and the remainder 10 of such space is used for the posting therein of bulletins as they are issued from time to time. Where this type of case is employed, it-is the practice to employ a sliding door 11, usually provided with a transparent pane, this door being of but substantially one halt the size of the space within the case, and slidable in the case to cover, or uncover that part of the board devoted to the registering of the employees, in which covering position it is suitably locked or secured to prevent tampering with the board by any one not authorized to do so. Where lthe entire space within the case is employed for registering purposes, the front door is in some instances, dispensed with entirely, and, where it is desired to `have such door in connection with a case whose 'capacity is taken up with the register, the door may be hinged tothe case or otherwise arranged in connection therewith. The door and case form no part of the present improvements. The elements entering into the construction of the register comprise tag-carrying strips disposed vertically within the case in spacededge to edge relation, andon which the tags or markers are movable from one rest position to another, the tags or markers in one position being visible or exposed, and in this position indicating the employee designated by the tag or marker as unregistered,7 the or markers in their other` position being unexposed or hidden from normal view, and indicating the employee as having registered.

The exposed and unexposed positions of the tags or markers is accomplished by the use of hiding-strips arranged in front of the tag-carrying strips and in front of Y the tags. These hiding strips while normally stationary, are capable of sliding movement within the .case when unlocked by an authorized person, so as to render the unexposed tags exposed, or vice versa, and also topermit removal of any desired tag by such authorized person, when it is desired to do so.

Secured to the base of-back 12, of the case 10, are a plurality of holders 14 for the tag-carrying strips or indicator element carrying-members 15. In order to simplify and cheapen the construction ofV the register elements, the holders 14 are preferably in the form offangle-bars, one leg or liange of which is suitably secured as by small screws to the back or base of the case, and the other or outstanding leg or {ian/ge of which has' lugs 16 struck out therefrom on both sides, these lugs being spaced both lonitndinally and transversely of the leg or ange,` either in pairs or staggered relation longitudinally of the latter, so that the lugs on each side of the iia'nge receive between them, the adjacent edge of a tag-carrying strip 15,7the vlatter each filling the space between two of the holders 14, and being held against forward or backward movement by saidv lugs.

The tag/carrying strips 15 are provided vertically throughout with spaced guidingslots in which the tags or markers ride. In Patent No. 853,612 above referred to, these guiding-slots are substantially segmental in form, and one end of each slot is enlarged sov as to permit insertion or removal of the tag, spring elements being soldered or otherwise secured to the back ofthe tag-carrying strip, and each overlying the enlarged vportion of one slot so as to retain the tag therein.

In the present construction, the slot has two'leg-portions 17, extending at substantially oblique diverging angles from a connecting neck l18 at the upper end thereof, which neck 18 is enlarged at its upper end to form an opening 19 of sufficient size to receive the head 20 of the rivet 21 that carries the tag or indicator element 22. The opening 19 lies substantially centrally of the width of the carrying strip, and with the tag dependin from the lower end of either of the slotegs 17, it will be impossible, in either of the two normal rest posi tions of .the hiding strips 23 to remove the ytaofs 22.

lIhe hiding-strips 23 are generally formed from channel iron, the flat faces of the strips being presented to the front of the case, and

the several strips being connected at the top and bottom by connecting bars 24 and 25 respectively whose rearwardly directed iianges 24 and 25 extend into the top and bottom cut-outs 14a of the outstanding ilanges of the holders 14 and bear against the outer faces of the carrying-strips l5 to hold the hiding-strips against inward movement. This forms a slat-like frame or .shutter, which is slidably mounted within the case 10 in front or" the tag-carrying Istrips. The object of these hiding strips is to render the tag or tags which have been moved to registered7 position by the employees, inaccessible to them after such movement. The frame formed by these hiding strips is usually setl in front of the tag-carrying strips and there suitably held as by small angle brackets 26, a handle 27 being pro vided at a convenient point for moving the frame.

The frame is adapted to be locked in the two normal rest positions or extremes` oi its movement. To this end, the lower rail or bar 25 carries a lock 28, the lock-bolt 2S) of which engages in either the bolt-socket 30, or bolt-socket 31, provided in a socketplate 32 countersunk in the upper face of the base-rail of the case 10.

Since the sliding movement of the frame,

be detached from the board, I provide suflicient clearance at one end only of the case to permit of excess movement heilig imparted to the frame toward said end when de,- sired so as to brinfT the hiding strips to the position shown in 4ig. 3, in which position any desired tag or tags may be readily removed. To normally limit the movement of the frame however to exactly the distance between bolt-sockets 30, 31, I provide the device with a suitable stop 33, here shown as a pivoted finger carried by the case 10. and which in its lowered position as shown in Fig, 1 engages against the end hiding strip ot the frame, and limits the movement of the latter to the left. When, however` this finger is swung up to the vertical position as shown in Fig. 3, then further movement of the frame toward the left is permitted, which will bring the tag-guide-slots centrally hetween the hiding strips, so that any desired tag or tags may be readily removed. Any suitable form of stop for arresting the move` ment of the frame in one direction, but which may be operated so as to permit additional movement of the frame in the same direction when desired, may be employed. A partition 33 or other stop may be pro- Y vided to limit the movement of the frame toward the right.

The struck-out lugs 34 here shown on the nieuwe j being shifted, from `striking and shifting `the tag directly thereabove, as is fully described in the patent heretofore referred to.

`By the employment ofthe angle-strips as holders for the tagV carrying-strips and the supporting of the tag carryingstrips thereon by lugs struck out from the angles,prac

tically the entire construction of the register is *reduced to simple punch and die work, and thecost thereby materially reduced. While obviously, a plain bar may be used for the hiding strips insteadof the channel bars herein shown, I have found that in boards of large tag-capacity, a channel bar hiding strip of lightweight will afford the necessary stiffness to the frame that is not possible where the hiding strips were plain flat bars of the same thickness of material.

A lock 35 is usually provided for the sliding dooryll adapted to engage the keeper 36, so that theregister part of the board may be secured closed when desired.

In assembling, a holder is placed and secured in proper position at one end of the case and a tag-carryingfstrip has-its one edge inserted between the lugs 16 thereof,

and a second holder is then brought up against the outer edge of the'tag-carrying strip, and so on, until all the strips and holders are in position, after which the sliding frame, havingI been previously assembled, is placed in position and there retained in any suitable manner, as by means of the brackets 26. Y A

While I have specifically described details in connection with the improvements as shown, I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction or forms of parts shown, as various changes may be made therein, in part or in whole, without departing from the scope of the improvements as claimed. j j i What I claim as new is 1. An indicator including a support, a plurality of outstanding flanges fastened in spaced relation to said support, an indicator element carryingstrip disposed between said flanges, means carried by said flanges to support said carrying strip against backward and forward movement, indicator elements attached to and movable laterally of said carrying strip to right and left rest positions, and means shiftable laterally for a limited distance in front of said carrying strip to right and left rest positions for hiding said indicator elements when the latter are shifted to either of their rest positions.

2Q An indicator including a support, a plurality of outstanding flanges fastened in spaced relation to said support and provided with laterally struck out lugs, an indicator element carrying strip disposed between said flanges with its opposite edges engaged by 2 ments when the `latteriare shifted to either of their rest positions.`

An indicator including a support, a plurality of anglebars arrangedin spaced relationand each having one flange fastened to said support with the other flange of the same projecting outwardly, a plurality of indicator element carrying strips arranged in `spacededge to edge relation between adjacent ones of the outwardly projecting flanges, means carried by said outwardly projecting fianges to support said carrying strips against backward and forward movement, indicator elements attached to and movable laterally ofsaid carrying strips to right and left rest positions, and means shiftable 1Ilaterally for a limited distance in front fof `said carrying strips to right and left rest positions for hiding said indicator elements when the latter are shifted to either of their rest positions.

An indicator including a` support, a plurality of indicator element carrying strips arranged spaced from said support in spaced edge to edge relation, means fastened to said support and extending between said carrying strips for receiving the edges of the latter to hold the same against backward and forward movement, 'indicator elements attachedto and movable laterally of said carrying strips to right and left rest positions, and means shiftable laterally for a limited distance in front of said carrying strips to right and left rest positions for hiding said indicator elements when the latter are shifted to either of their rest positions.

5. An indicator including an indicator element carryingmember, indicator elements attached to and movable laterally of said carrying-member to right and left rest positions, and means shiftable laterally for a limited distance in front of said carryingmember -to right and left rest positions for hiding said elements when the latter are shifted to either of their rest positions and fol1 preventing detachmentof said elements from said carrying-member when the elements and the hiding means are in either of their rest positions, said hiding means betions for hiding said element when the latter is shifted to either of its rest positions and for preventing disconnection of the element from the carrying-member when the element and lhiding means are in either of their rest positionsand means operable to allow iurtherlateral movement of the .hiding means to an abnormal position to permit disconnection of said element from said carrying-member. 1

V7. vAn indicator including an indicatorelement carrying-member, an indicator element slidably attached to and movable laterally of said carrying member to eXtreme right and left rest positions, means to allow disconnection of said element from said-carrying-member only when the element is substantially midway between its said rest positions, means shiftable laterally for a limited distance in front of the carrying-member to normal right and left rest positions for hiding said element when the latter is shifted to either of its rest positions and for preventing disconnection of the element from the carrying-member when the element and Y hiding means. are in either of their rest positions, and means operable to allow further lateral movement of the hiding means to an abnormal position to permit disconnection of said lelement from said member when the element is substantially midway between its rest positions.

8. An indicator including an indicator element carrying-member having downward diverging slots connected by a neck slot having an enlarged terminal, anfindicator element including a shank slidably positioned in said slot and provided with a head larger than the latter but slightly smaller than the terminal, said element being movable to right and left rest positions with the shank in the lower ends of the diverging slots, means shiftable laterally for a limited distance in front of the carrying-member to normal right and left rest positions for hiding said element when the latter is shifted to either of its rest positions and for preventing disconnection of the element from the carrying member when the element and the hiding means are in either of their rest positions, and means to allow further movement of said hiding means to permit removal of the element when the head oi said shank is arranged coincident with said enlarged terminal.

9. An indicator including an indicator element carrying-member, indicator elements attached to and movable relative to said carrying-mernber to opposite rest positions, and means shiftable for a limited distance in front of said carrying member to corresponding opposite rest positions for hiding said element when the latter are shifted to either of their rest positions and for preventing detachment of said elements from said carrying-member when the elements and the hiding means are in either of their rest positions, said hiding means being further movable to permit detachment of said elements from said carrying-member.

In testimony whereof I affix my si gnature.

WILLOUGHBY B. LINDSEY. 

